1. big-berried manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca.): large, tree-like manzanita with peeling red bark 

2. red bud tree (Cercis occidentalis): showy purplish-pink flowers in spring 

3. coffee berry (Rhamnus californica v. tomentella): the birds like its purple berries which appear in late summer 

4. water birch (Betula occidentalis): grows near streams; notice the short little horizontal lines on the bark 

5. valley oak (Quercus lobata) also called “mush oak” because they tend to rot in the center; this oak also produces galls (see the Wilde College web site for more information) 

6. white alder (Alnus rhombifolia): this large tree usually indicates that water is nearby 

7. red-osier dogwood or creek dogwood (Cornus stolonifera): small clusters of white flowers in spring 

8. “Willy’s zillion year old tree”. Can you guess how old this tree was when it fell down? 

9. California wild rose (Rosa californica): pretty delicate pink flowers in the summer 

10. red willow (Salix laevigata): a tree, with very long narrow leaves, that likes to be near water 

11. Native Americans may have used this rock for grinding acorns; notice the scooped out surface on top 

12. Sierra plum (Prunus subcordata v. Kelloggii): 10 ft. to the right, is the only native plum tree in the Pacific states; white blossoms in the spring and sweet yellow fruit in the late summer/early fall 

13. Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor): a non-native plant that has yummy fruit Jul-Aug 

14. spicebush (Calycanthus occidentalis): this bush arching into the path has large fleshy-petaled, deep red, exotic-looking flowers in the late spring 

15. “Penn” spring: water seepage runs into the creek year- round and keeps “Edwina” creek flowing 

16. lichen on trees and rocks: this light colored “plant” is not moss …read more about it on the Wilde College web site 

17. blue oak (Quercus douglasii): notice the deep green blue color of the leaves 

18. interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii): this oak keeps its leaves year around and many of them are shrub-like; also at this location is digger pine (Pinus sabiniana ): this large pine tree behind the interior oak is also called a “gray pine”, a sick-looking tree with pine needles that are up to 1 foot long 

19. black oak (Quercus kelloggii): leaves are the largest of the oaks with deep lobes that have soft bristle tipped teeth; the leaves turn yellow in the fall before they drop 

20. poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum): 3-leaved plant that can irritate your skin; also to the right is spiny red-berry (Rhamnus crocea): this bush has small spiny leaves with ¼” wide, bright red berries in late summer 

21. digger pine cones; the tree you saw at #18 produces these large massive cones 

22. “Willy’s very dead tree”: Can you think of all the things that depend on this tree for food and/or protection? 

23. buckeye (Aesculus californica): produces large white blossoms in Apr.-June; drops its leaves by late summer 

24. wild grape (Vitis californicus): notice that this vine is very woody and climbs over other vegetation; it produces clusters of very small grapes that are seedy 

25. “Woody” spring feeds the creek at this point